A Study of Multi-structural level Paternalistic Leadership Effectiveness：Military organization as an Example

In the past leadership researches, over 90% papers were focus on direct supervisors’ leadership, but neglected the effects of the higher leaders(ex.CEO). It makes leadership theories incomplete. Not only the western leadership research but Paternalistic leadership theory that is also called the indigenous approach leadership theory is in the same situation. This study took 473 platoon leaders in military companies with different task types. Here are the findings：(1) Compare with indirect leaders, direct leaders are more powerful on work performance; whereas compare with direct leaders, indirect leaders are more powerful on unit identification and occupational commitment. (2) The influence of the direct moral leadership on unit identification is moderated positively by indirect benevolent leadership. (3) In authoritarian leadership of indirect leaders, the influence of the direct authoritarian leadership on work performance are moderated positively by indirect authoritarian leadership; and indirect benevolent leadership moderates negatively the relationships between the direct authoritarian leadership and career commitment ; indirect authoritarian leadership moderates positively the relationships between the direct authoritarian leadership and unit identification, the direct moral leadership and career commitment. (4) The influence of the direct benevolent leadership on unit identification is moderated positively by the indirect moral leadership; the influence of the direct authoritarian leadership on career commitment is moderated positively by indirect moral leadership. Finally, it is also discussed in this study for the main findings and limitations as well as future study directions and management implications.